The 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz Heats Up the Small Truck War Again! How Does It Compare to the Maverick?

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[chrishaddad]

I like how the TFL guys think about the other staff even when they aren’t there. Andre pointed out Nathan would like the physical switches, and they regularly point out stuff their colleagues would appreciate in other videos.

[shawnfalls]

I remember not long ago, the Maverick was $19, 995 starting with the hybrid standard.

[henrikhook.]

That bright (orange red) color on the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT IS stunning!. 😍👍🏼👌🏼

[SMB]

Upgraded Santa Cruz is starting to look a lot better !! I own a maverick but don’t think I could switch to Hyundai anytime soon but good to see Santa Cruz with a better style

[melvinnoble]

Thats funny at the beginning of the video when he said it was off road ready and pointed out the TOW HOOK; first thing!!! 😆😂🤣

[JoshsGadgetsandMore]

We just bought a Santa Cruz SEL with the activity package (highest equipped trim with a NA engine and traditional trans) for 32k out the door. A similar equiped Maverick was quoted atleast $37k to us and still didn't feel as nice.

[js]

Until the Santa Cruz gets the hybrid from the Tucson, it'll always be outsold

[craigquann]

Don't put a DCT in the off road version. Make the traditional automatic work for the 2.5T,

[josephwhiskeybeale]

I don’t think the Maverick has anything to worry about

[vinny]

I have the 22 Maverick, , 13, 000+ miles in, the only recall was a reprogram for trailer brake and side impact airbag.
Tows a trailer with 60 - 50lb bags of feed on a trailer and 10 - 50lb bags of feed in bed no problem.
Doesnt overheat or search for gears in "Tow" mode.

[tadinator]

I own a Maverick but wanted the Santa Cruz since the days of the concept vehicle.
I still like the styling of the SC more, though the fuel mileage(34 mpg highway/about 23 mpg on my daily commute on winter blend fuel) and performance of the Maverick are impressive at its price. The Maverick's ride is a bit too firm for what it is -- too truck-like, and the actual handling is nice, though I think they should have made it better. My previous truck, a Ram 1500 handled as well, if not a touch better, and the ride was somewhat better despite having the 20" wheel option. That said, the Maverick will dust my Ram w/ the 3.6L V6 -- and I have already done it!
The interior of the Maverick is quite cool, sort of retro, but colorful. I do find it to be somewhat uncomfortable for myself, but other times am quite pleased. I just don't often find it comfortable when it comes to the position I find my legs at while driving -- my knee resting against the lower portion of the dash. I'd have loved to have driven the SC to see what the difference was prior to receiving my Maverick(waited 9 months for my order), but didn't really have the chance to do so.

After almost a full year, if I had to do it again, while I like my Maverick and would probably have liked the SC too, but as people tend to tailgate and fly up on your a&& at traffic lights, I'd have kept my Ram for the feeling of safety if gave me at its size.

I do like the changes of the SC, physical controls are nice, and most people I know hate everything being controlled by touch screens. Even with the lower HP and lower fuel mileage ratings of the base engine, I'd still like to drive one.

[ludeman]

2 door longer bed with manual transmission is all I want

[Chubbydippin]

You said it perfectly Andre, "Trucklet."

[numberpappy]

The maverick became a high seller because of what it offered for a good price! If you notice the maverick is no longer the big seller it used to be because its no longer sold for a good price. The santa fe is $40 grand plus. How is this a good deal? A full size truck can be found if you look hard enough for a little more than $40 grand. In my humble opinion, auto manufacturers have lost their way and have lost their touch with the middle class customer. The middle class used to be the bread and butter for auto sales. I predict bad times for auto manufacturers until they go back to their roots. Every dealership i see have cars sitting even from 2022, just rotting in their lots. I myself used to buy a new car every couple of years. I no longer do, and i won't until things change.

[Offshore]

That Santa Cruz is sharp. Also, you can’t beat that warranty.

[kevin]

Maverick, I'm seeing them all over the place. Companies buying them for work vehicles.

[Xavier]

I see a ton of Ford Mavericks around town here in Phoenix. Very rarely see the Santa Cruz, I give it a couple more years in production if other brands start making these types of small trucks.

[Sarkus]

Not sure why Hyundai doesn't offfer a hybrid of this vehicle. That is half the Mavericks being sold and explains the success of that vehicle as much as anything. I do think the Santa Cruz is a better standard package (better towing capacity, etc.), but it's more expensive so it has to be.

[martinmarinelarena]

I kinda feel like ford screwed its customers by making the hybrid more expensive than the 2.0 turbo, when clearly it costs them less to build it. That and raising the overall prices 3-5k in a year for no reason.

[thebeddoctor]

They needed to put the hybrid in this for the refresh. Huge miss.